Appleton is forming a Housing Development Policy Task Force in collaboration with key stakeholders including the Home Builders Association of the Fox Cities, REALTORS Association of Northeast Wisconsin, the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce and Habitat for Humanity Fox Cities.
The task force will work over the next several months to discuss and review current processes and policies to identify opportunities to reduce barriers to housing production in the city of Appleton. The task force will produce recommendations aimed at streamlining housing development, with a particular focus on increasing the financial accessibility of housing at various income levels.
“Like communities across the country, we are facing an acute shortage of affordable housing,” said Mayor Jake Woodford. “By bringing together a coalition of organizations, we intend to take a holistic approach to the issue, relying on the expertise and experiences of those in our community to guide our efforts.”
The task force will engage homebuilders, contractors, developers, sole-proprietors, and others, to assess their experiences with the city’s development processes. Internal stakeholders, including city staff from Planning, Economic Development, Inspections, DPW Engineering, Fire, and other relevant departments, will also provide insight.
”I am excited to embark on this effort to engage with stakeholders in the housing development process and look forward to identifying mutually beneficial, locally tailored solutions that will advance our housing efforts,” said Kara Homan, Community & Economic Development Director for the city of Appleton. The primary objectives of the Appleton Housing Development Policy Task Force include:
- Identifying areas for process improvements and policy recommendations.
- Evaluating policies and best practices to accelerate the development of higher-density, more affordable housing.
- Fostering collaboration between external and internal stakeholders to achieve mutually beneficial solutions.
- Ensuring adequate utilization of city infrastructure, capital, and service delivery resources for both short and long-term housing development projects.
The findings and recommendations produced by the task force will serve as a roadmap for enhancing housing development in the city of Appleton and address housing affordability.
